MLB, Fox turn back World Series clock with earlier start times  —  Major League Baseball and Fox will announce today a real TV throwback: World Series action starting before 8 p.m. ET.  —  That hasn't happened, in a regularly scheduled weeknight Series game, in at least 34 years.

Vin Scully, Voice Of The Yankees  —  The advent of the Mets' annual visit to Dodger Stadium always reminds me of one of the greatest baseball stories nobody tells.  —  Let's correct that.  —  A decade ago, when I was still working full-time in sports and in Los Angeles …

Prospectus Idol: Meet the Finalists by Baseball Prospectus  —  Meet the Finalists  —  It is our privilege to present the slate of competitors in the first-ever edition of Prospectus Idol.  The objective of this competition is to find a new Baseball Prospectus columnist …

Wells swings against PED users  —  Former Yanks hurler weighs in on Clemens, Rodriguez  —  NEW YORK — Former big leaguer David Wells came out swinging Sunday against those who have used performance-enhancing drugs, counting the achievements of former teammate Roger Clemens …

Three banks set to finance Cubs purchase  —  Chicago Cubs buyer Tom Ricketts is close to lining up three banks to arrange the $450 million financing necessary to complete his acquisition of the team, financial sources said, positioning him to clear a substantial hurdle in the long-running sale of the club.

Cashman: “The most important thing is performance”  —  A big thank you to Times-Tribune photographer Jason Farmer to passing along some of his extra photos from today's game.  —  Last time Chien-Ming Wang pitched for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, general manager Brian Cashman more or less told us …

Clayton Kershaw pitches seven no-hit innings in Dodgers' victory  —  Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw didn't give up a hit until the first batter of the eighth inning Sunday against the Florida Marlins  —  He gives up a leadoff double in the eighth inning, ending bid for no-hitter as Dodgers cruise past Marlins.

An Open Letter To ESPN  —  To whom it may concern:  —  Please remove Steve Phillips from all of your baseball broadcasts.  During Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter, Phillips has been a relatively unspectacular commentator.  Allowing Phillips to speak outside of these timed …

BASEBALL FANS DESERVE BETTER THAN STERLING  —  DON'T misinterpret this; it isn't a rip, it's a plea, a plea for change.  Enough is enough.  For those who care about baseball, a preventable, 20-year problem has become a crisis.  —  John Sterling, the radio Voice of the Yankees and a man …

Mauer blocks Gardner at plate after fake throw to 1st  —  The play at the plate felt more like a dive for the pylon - and Brett Gardner was stopped at the goal line.  —  With the Yanks and Twins tied in the bottom of the ninth Sunday, Gardner made a wild sprint for home but Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer got …

Peralta called up by Rockies to replace Daley  —  With Matt Daley scheduled to undergo an MRI on his left foot Tuesday, the Rockies called up Triple-A reliever Joel Peralta.  —  Peralta caught general manager Dan O'Dowd's eye with his recent work for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox …

Improving Mariners looking to trade Yuniesky Betancourt to the Pirates for Jack Wilson?  —  A nice win by the Mariners yesterday, as seen in the photo above.  They needed a weekend like this.  That's two good series in a row by the Mariners, even though they only got results on this one occasion.

Power Rankings: Solid road trip lands Dodgers back at No. 1  —  ESPN.com  —  In 2009, the Los Angeles Dodgers have already set a modern major league record for the most consecutive home victories (13) to start a season.  But their recent road trip was what catapulted them back to the top of the MLB Power Rankings.